As per the Annual Survey of Industries 2014-15 conducted by Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Food Processing is one of the major employment intensive industries constituting 12.77per cent of employment generated in all manufacturing factories registered under Factories Act 1948. The total number of persons engaged in such food processing industries was 17.73 lakh in 2014-15. As per the NSSO 67th Round, 2010-11, total number of persons engaged in unincorporated enterprises of food processing industries was 47.9 lakh. The details of employment generated during the last three years, year-wise are as follows:
| Year | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
| Persons (in lakh) | 16.89 | 17.41 | 17.73 |
| Source: Annual Survey of Industries, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation | |||
As per the extant Policy, FDI up to 100%, under the automatic route, is allowed in food processing industries. Also, 100% FDI is permitted under Government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and/or produced in India. To encourage the development of food processing industries, Government has provided various fiscal incentives in terms of exemption of taxes. A special fund of Rs. 2000 crore has also been created with NABARD to provide affordable credit to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing units in designated Food Parks. Food and agro-based processing units and cold chain infrastructure have been classified under agriculture activities for Priority Sector Lending(PSL). As per the Annual Survey of Industries conducted by Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Invested Capital in Food Processing Industries registered under Factories Act 1948during the last three years is as follows:
| Year | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
| Invested Capital(Rs. Crore) | 3,11,977.3 | 3,31,925.9 | 3,68,443.6 |
| Source: Annual Survey of Industries, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation | |||
According to the data provided by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the year-wise details of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows received in food processing industries sector are as follows:
| Year | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
| FDI Equity inflows (US $ Million) | 515.86 | 505.88 | 727.22 |
| Source: Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion | |||
This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
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SBS/Sunita